Title contenders off and running
by Phil Johnson, 7th May 2006

Plumtree, due to their eye catching pre season acquisitions have emerged as possible title contenders and they got their season off and running with a seventeen point winning draw at Eastwood. The visitors, without overseas star Naved Latif and injured opening bat Steve James recovered from 34 – 3 to post a useful 188 thanks in the main to 55 from Michael Tew, for Eastwood, seventeen year old Luke Esson took 6 for 46 after making the step up from the second team.

Despite an opening burst from Scott Bailey, Eastwood looked well set in their reply on 68 for 2 off just 14 overs. However there then followed an astonishing passage of play as Plumtree introduced spin into the attack in the shape of Australian Dallas Coull and returnee Taufseer Jaffari. The pair took three wickets apiece and conceded just 23 runs from 27 overs in total. Eastwood skipper Neil Gregory remained defiant though as they just held on for a losing draw.

Ellerslie skipper Eddie Pidduck’s return to the club proved to be an unhappy one as his former side Long Eaton (252 for 6) piled on the runs thanks to Pakistani Umar Hassan (125) and skipper Brett Scothern (78). Samarat Sharma made 76 for the home side but Ellerslie fell some way short on 176. Newstead Village were given a harsh reintroduction into the top flight as they crashed to 99 all out and an eight wicket defeat at Attenborough, fifteen year old leg spinner Domnic Terkowski grabbing four wickets.

There was a thrilling tie at Radcliife (156 for 8) where Balderton required 12 off the final over and three off the last delivery to secure victory. For Radcliffe, Pete Vickers (57 and 3 for 27) turned in a good all round performance.

Keyworth’s Ian Graham soon made his mark on Division B, crashing 145 out of his sides 256 for 7. In reply, teenager Henry Straw (77) showed his potential but West Bridgfordians (198 for 7) had to settle for a losing draw. After enduring a difficult pre season, the smiles returned to Collingham in their home game against newly promoted Kirkby Portland. Chasing 189 for victory, veteran Paul Todd, more renowned for his consistent performances in the seconds last season, smacked an unbeaten 121 as the home side raced to a ten wicket success.

In Division C, Hickling, promoted last season have made an excellent start winning their first two games. The latest success was a four wicket win at Bramcote (172), ex Unity man Harvey Fenwick the man of the match with an unbeaten 94. Long Whatton, the other promoted side also began with a win at Hucknall who have now played two lost two. West Indian Caribs bounced back from their surprise defeat at Bramcote last week by edging past Belvoir (199) with two wickets remaining, Wasim Karim (49*) seeing the winners home.

Two last over finishes in D. Wilsons (124) overcame Newark (119) with four balls to spare whilst eleven runs off the final over was too many for Willoughby (155) who fell four runs shy of Lady Bay Boots, Imran Shahid (5 for 29) Mohammed Arif (6 for 30) the star performers. Calverton captain Chris Miller hit 105 but it proved to be in vain as visitors Stanton by Dale overcame the 206 target thanks to 77 form Rob Kirk and 48 from Rob Ellen. Andy Pick, fresh from coaching Canada in the World Cup struck 41 for Thrumpton (159) but Radcliffe ran out comfortable winners.

Underwood narrowly missed out on promotion in E last season and must rank as one of the favourites in 2007, Chris Briggs taking 6 for 22 in their wicket win at home to Southwell (120). Wollaton II will be another side that fancy their chances as they eased to an eight wicket success at home to Collingham (176 for 7), veteran Andy Rattray and new signing Jawaid Maqbool both hitting half centuries. Defeat for Collingham though was harsh on skipper Charlie Lucas who had struck 91 in the visitors reply.  Newcomers Nuthall and West Bridgford Legion were up against each other and it was the former that came up victorious thanks to an unbeaten 74 form the consistent Richard Marsh. Elsewhere, the local derby was won by Risley  who overcame the target of 127 set by Long Eaton II, Matt Shaw (6 for 22) producing the game winning performance.

Tom Buckley has returned for Eastwood II in F, and Notts Unity II must have wished he hadn’t bothered, Buckley contributed 120 out of his sides 238, Unity fell way short on 147.  Bottesford II recovered well from their mauling at the hands of Gedling Colliry II the previous week by comfortably disposing of Ellerslie II (111 for 9) by seven wickets, Glen Sutton taking 5 for 16. Newcomers Caythorpe III started with a win, knocking off 223 set by Wymeswold, Colin Baker top scoring with 67.

Seventeen year old Fraser Stretton of Gotham Village II captured the headlines in G taking a hat trick in his sides five wicket win at home to Snibston Grange. Hoveringham, looking for their fifth successive promotion began well with a four wicket win at Epperstone (138) the winners taking only 18.5 overs to chalk up the winning runs, unsurprisingly, Stuart Walton was in the runs again with 61. Not such good news for another promoted club, Kinoulton (83) who were well beaten at Chilwell (187) who came up in third place due to the merger of Beeston and Toton Sycamore. Speaking of which the new club  started successfully, Rob Darby hitting 67 in his teams six wicket win at Bramcote (146 for 9). The divisions best bowling performance went to Lowdham’s Russ Miller who took 6 for 12 as home side Whatton and Aslockton were skittled out for 45.

In H, newly promoted Loughborough Carillion II look as if they mean business following a 67 run success at home to Rolls Royce Leisure II (183 for 9), Australian Ben Webb (55 and 4 for 18) starring for the winners. Easy wins too for East Bridgford and Cotgrave, the latter beating Gedling and Sherwood II who could only muster eight players.

There was a century maker  at Sutton Bonington in J with Justin Staves achieving the feat for the home side in their 54 run success over Caunton (156). Their first team may have fielded a weakened line up but Newstead Village II (275 for 7) had a crushing victory over Edingley (99) with Ian Greatorex (59), Matt Thrower (59) and Martin Ingham (5 for 11) all making telling contributions. The two relegated clubs met at Ruddington (191 for 5) and thanks to 94 from Navin Pathorpe it was the home side that came out on top by five wickets against Bestwood Village.

Undoubtedly, the divisions best performance in K came at Belvoir II where 14 year old Jack Copley hit 77 in the home sides winning score of 236 against Thurgarton II. Elsewhere, Lee Collison of Risley II (146) scored 47 and then took 4 for 35 as his side were victorious at Bingham (96). Agony for Scott Pratt though of Burton Joyce (239 for 7), he was dismissed three short of a century but still saw his side to a comfortable success over Attenborough III (149).

In L, Kimberley III, led by new skipper Ian Mozley, may just have the right mixture of youth and experience to mount a serious title challenge. On Saturday they had teenager Jack Mowat striking 74 in their 177 run thrashing at home to Newark II (54). Kimberley may have to get past another third team, Clifton Village who also began with a comfortable win, Scott Fairhall hitting 119 in their success at Nottingham Victoria.. Celebrations at last for Stanton by Dale Ii who had only won 5 games in three years prior to Saturday, however they were victorious by 11 runs over newly promoted Underwood II (163), veteran Barry Taylor top scoring with 48.

Division M saw the leagues only declaration as Fiskerton retired on 272 for 5 with Jim Kirkham (94) and David Edge (60) amongst the runs, Caythorpe made a decent fist of it closing on 213, with 14 year old M Woods top scoring on 60.

Division N saw another tie, this time between Gedling Colliery III and Lowdham II who finished on 142 apiece. Wins though for relegated clubs Balderton II and Shepshed Town III. Plumtree III survived by the skin of their teeth last season but 2007 has begun promisingly with a close fought two wicket success at home to Newstead Village III, 12 year old Matt Millns taking 3 for 22 for the winners.

In P, newly promoted Kimberley IV and Broad Street both began with convincing victories. Elsewhere Chilwell II’s Sudhakar Peravali was the divisions best performer taking 5 for 6 as Beeston Sycamore III were shot out for 59.

Many new clubs and sides began their life in Division R and for them it was a winning start as Kinoulton II, Unity III, Hoveringham II, Wollaton III and Young Lions  all recorded victories. Perhaps the most eye catching performance was Wymeswold II who had Sophia Hayes taking 5 for 41 in their eight wicket success over Shepshed IV (112).